Is Bug Spray Toxic to Children and Animals?
Bug spray can be a useful aid in the battle against mosquitos and other pests that bite and sting. Sometimes, bug bites aren’t just pesky, they’re dangerous. Occasionally, allergic reactions can happen and, worse, diseases can be transmitted.
Is Bug Spray Safe?
While bug spray may provide relief, especially on hot summer nights when insects are most active, health concerns have been raised over the years, particularly when it comes to animals and children.
Bug Spray Active Ingredients
Generally speaking, you’ll come across three main components when searching for the best bug spray. They are:
DEET: This is one of the most common and widely researched bug sprays. It is believed to be highly effective against a broad range of insects like fleas, mosquitos, and ticks.
Picaridin: After DEET, Picaridin is considered to be highly effective. While it may not last as long as DEET, it’s believed to irritate the skin less and have a milder odor.
Natural Oils: For those who are concerned about the potential toxins found in either of the above ingredients, they opt for a blend of natural oils. Particularly, they seek out oil of lemon eucalyptus, lavender, cinnamon, or peppermint.
Before heading out, be sure to check your local weather news to see if any adverse storms will affect your time spent outdoors this summer.
Bug Spray for Children
Each of these active ingredients has been studied, particularly with regard to children. For instance, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that, when used on children, your bug spray should not contain more than 30% DEET.
That said, DEET should never be applied to infants and, even if you choose to apply it to your young children, you have to make sure it never gets into their eyes, mouths, or open wounds.
Regarding Picaridin, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deems it to be safe for children. Like DEET, you want to aim for brands with lower concentrations and never apply it to an infant.
Although natural essential oils seem like a safe and healthy alternative for kids because they’re natural, you have to ensure they’re not allergic to any of these potent natural ingredients.
A good way to approach this is to do a spot test on them before they go out to play. If they don’t appear to have a reaction to the natural bug spray, then you might be able to proceed with caution.
Of course, you can’t apply essential oil straight to the skin. An example of a homemade bug spray is one that includes 1 part oil of lemon eucalyptus (or lavender) with 10 parts witch hazel. Then, you’ll mix, apply, and hope for the best!
Bug Spray for Dogs
As a rule of thumb, none of the above bug spray options should be used on dogs. DEET, for example, is highly toxic if ingested by cats, dogs, and other animals. It can lead to vomiting, seizures, and even death.
Picaridin should also be avoided and the list of essential oils that are toxic for dogs is long. Some of the ones mentioned above like cinnamon and peppermint are particularly dangerous.
Instead, your best bet is to speak to your veterinarian about healthy alternatives if your dog suffers from dog bites on hot summer nights. Otherwise, you can keep them indoors during peak insect hours, such as dawn and dusk.
It’s also wise to invest in preventative treatments like flea and tick collars, or prescription flea and tick medication from your veterinarian. These often kill off any bugs that attempt to attack your cat or dog.
Safe Practices When Using Bug Spray
Whether you explore options containing DEET or natural alternatives, there are a few safety practices to ensure everyone’s health and wellness:
Always read the labels to see what the active ingredients are, as well as concentration amounts and age limits.
Apply as little as possible while still allowing for its effectiveness. Over-application can increase the risk of any potential health effects.
When you return indoors, wash off the bug spray to reduce any potential adverse effects of prolonged exposure.
Do not apply bug spray to sensitive areas such as your eyes, mouth, or open cuts.
Try to wear long sleeves or pants if you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors during dawn and dusk.
You can also look into bug spray for the house. For example, you might light citronella candles or run essential oil diffusers filled with the type of oils that ward off these pests at night. As we wind down on summer and enter into the fall, some of these bug spray alternatives may provide you with relief.
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